Decided to build a garage. Now the fun begins.

[Hipster]

One of my little brothers did a red epoxy coating on his shop floor. It looked good for a while. It also showed every speck of dust, and let me tell you, any amount of dust made that floor a horrible slip hazard. I hated it. It had to constantly be swept with dust mops just to keep it halfway decent.

Richard

Not a big fan of floor coatings. Haven't worked in a shop yet where the coatings could withstand floor jacks and jackstands, and sand in the mix makes it impossible to kneel or lay on.

 

[South VA]

Partially caught up in this thread again. Floor coatings were considered when I built mine, then realized I actually use my shop for work. Pretty floors are cool (and expensive) until you realize the finish is destroyed.

I used a densifier and the Ghostshield product on mine, allows spills to be cleaned up fairly easy and I don't have a finish to worry about...also, I've been known to do burnouts in my shop

I had to look up densifier - having never heard of it. So I gather it is applied after the slab is poured and cured, no?

Would I put that on and then paint it?

Hoping you've had some time to spend on garagejournal.com. Tons of info over there, you can literally read for days on topics you need more info on. Plus its a great way to see how others have used the space in buildings the same size as you have planned.

I signed up at garagejournal.com, and posted my intro, but haven’t really spent any time there yet. It’s on my list of things to do, as it looks like a really good site. Thanks for recommending it!

 

[South VA]

Not a big fan of floor coatings. Haven't worked in a shop yet where the coatings could withstand floor jacks and jackstands, and sand in the mix makes it impossible to kneel or lay on.

Does that go for paint, as well? I really don’t want to mix sand with it, for the reason you cite.

 

[Hipster]

Does that go for paint, as well? I really don’t want to mix sand with it, for the reason you cite.

I went to work at an upscale brand new shop, i don't know what they added to it but was unbearable to get down on the floor. Couldn't slide stuff around on it either. Bodyshop stuff but sometimes easier to slide a loose engine, frame, piece of equipment around without finding means or help to physically pick it up. Take your woodworking, slide it across the floor is like 80 grit across the bottom. We all chewed up a bunch of brand new parts in that shop. it was some type of epoxy professionally done before equipment ws moved in, and it wasn't long it was coming loose. Beach/playground sand, non-skid oil rig epoxy, idk, but it was overkill.

 

[Erik the Awful]

Constant purge is what I do - but that takes hours because everything I pick up - my mind races with what "project" I could use it for.

I have a 30x40 and I'm constantly purging.

"Big enough" for me would probably be a 60x80, and I wouldn't have much lawn left. I'd have to divide it up into a 30x40 metal shop, a 30x40 clean room, a 30x40 parts closet, and a 30x40 general work space.

Now wait, that's not big enough of a general work space. 60x100?

 

[BuiltToWork]

Now wait, that's not big enough of a general work space. 60x100?

(but too true)

 

[OutlawDrifter]

I had to look up densifier - having never heard of it. So I gather it is applied after the slab is poured and cured, no?

Would I put that on and then paint it?

I signed up at garagejournal.com, and posted my intro, but haven’t really spent any time there yet. It’s on my list of things to do, as it looks like a really good site. Thanks for recommending it!

Yes, densifier goes down after the cement has had time to cure. I would still advise against paint, check out the Ghostshield product. It makes the cement less permiable to oils and other spills. As stated, the first time you drag something across the painted floor and scratch it, or slip on the super slick surface, you'll wish you had left it alone.

Unless you're building a "man cave" specific type building, for playing cards and watching sporting events, where no work will be completed, I really don't see the benefit of a pretty floor coating. I've watched my uncle epoxy coat the floor of his garage no less than 3 times in the last 30 years...doesn't seem worth it to me.

 

[Hipster]

Power co came today and powered me up

 

[South VA]

Power co came today and powered me up

Outstanding!

 

[Hipster]

Just so we're clear, the beer bottle comes off the mower seat BEFORE I sit. LOL No tellin' what yuse guys would turn that into.